9 New Witchy Books to Read This Fall

5 Cozy New Books for Fall (with Cozy ...

9 New Witchy Books to Read This Fall

Hi, my bookish friend! It’s that time of year again for one of my favorite book list themes: witchy books!

What is it about “witch-lit” that’s so enchanting? Is it the magic of ancient knowledge and natural healing powers? The dark drama? Defying the patriarchy?

All of that and then some!

So, now that spooky season is officially here, let’s cast a spell on your reading habits with:

9 New Witchy Books, from historical fiction to horror to cozy, for your Fall reading list

“Bookish Pairings” are back with witch-themed mood music and drinks

A Reading hack to read more books that works like magic on your stress

I’m so glad you’ve decided to join our reading coven … for better or curse!

Happy Reading!

Your friend,

Audry

P.S. Would you be interested in a casual once-a-month book club meeting, using the “Chat” feature here on Substack? A chance to pop in, share, and discuss what you’re reading? I’d begin each “meeting” with a general book discussion prompt to break the ice.

Comment if it’s something you’d like me to host!

Leave a comment

Designed on Canva by Audry Fryer | Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)

SHARE with a friend who’s 100% that witch!

Bookish Recs: New Books if You Love Witches

Witchy books cross so many genres! It’s not all dark and gothic. There are also cozy witchy rom-coms and fascinating nonfiction books about the history of witches, as well as guides to the practice of witchcraft.

So, if you love reading about witches, today’s book list, from “The First Witch of Boston” to “The Last Witch,” is a wicked potion of the newest witchy books for Fall 2025! View this booklist on Bookshop.org here!

The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano

This page-turning historical fiction brings to life the true story of Margaret Jones, the first woman convicted of witchcraft in seventeenth-century Massachusetts. It’s a suspenseful and historically accurate tale of dangerous suspicion inside a Puritan community and the devoted love of Margaret’s husband to try to save her.

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

This eerie dark academia novel blends horror with historical mystery. The stories of three women from different eras and backgrounds, spanning from 1900s Mexico to 1990s Massachusetts, share one common thread: a witch!

A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan

In this historical fantasy full of unexpected twists and turns, a plainspoken witch takes on a desperate mission to track down dangerous magical relics during World War II before they fall into the hands of the Nazis. Together with unlikely allies, she travels through occupied France in a race against time.

A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance

When teens, Nora and Mazzy, perform a spell on a beach in Cape Cod and a dead body washes up, it’s only the beginning of a string of murders. This twisty, witchy young adult thriller follows Nora and Mazzy as they work to unravel dark occult secrets … before they become the next victims.

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn

Practical Magic meets Gone Girl in this dark, spellbinding tale. Piers Corbin discovers that her lifelong affinity for poison is actually a deadly birthright to rid the world of evil men. When Piers crosses paths with a serial killer, even her flirtation with a local sheriff does little to stop her from using her lethal magic as a Bane Witch.

Love’s a Witch by Tricia O’Malley

If Charmed and The Pumpkin Spice Café are your idea of fall reading, then add this bestselling cozy romance to your TBR! Sloane MacGregor, A 25-year-old witch about to acquire her powers, returns to Scotland to break her family’s curse. However, the grumpy, yet handsome, mayor is determined, despite his crush on her, to send Sloane back home to protect Briarhaven. But as the title says, “Love’s a Witch!”

How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy's Guide to Silencing Women by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi

This historical account of the grim bureaucracy behind the witch hunts of 16th-century Scotland exposes the misogynistic movement that condemned countless women as witches. It shares actual trial transcripts along with insights on how history’s fears continue to echo in today’s struggles for justice. It’s equal parts chilling and, at times, darkly humorous. (Release Date: September 30, 2025)

The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller

In this tale of magical realism, three modern-day witches fight the patriarchy from the site of their family’s ancient heritage. On Wild Hill, on the furthest edge of Long Island, sisters Brigid and Phoebe, and Phoebe’s daughter, Sybil, uncover family secrets, stoke their unearthly powers, and confront the ghost of the original witch to occupy this hill. (Release Date: October 7, 2025)

The Last Witch by C. J. Cooke

Based on a true story, this historical horror novel follows Helena Scheuberin, an outspoken young wife in 1485 Innsbruck who finds herself accused of both murder and witchcraft by a malicious priest, who would go on to become one of Europe’s most notorious witchfinders. Helena risks everything as she stands up for the truth in her fight for survival. (Release Date: October 14, 2025)

For more witchy books, see my book list (last updated in 2024) on the Best Books About Witches (That Are Wickedly Spellbinding)

Bookish Pairings: Cast a Spell on Your Reading Time

Designed on Canva by Audry FryerDrink

Drunk Witch Cocktail: Simply stir together vodka, grenadine, and Blue Curacao, add ice, and top with Sprite.

Witch’s Brew Mocktail: Mix pineapple juice with lime juice and top with ginger ale. (I’d swap in apple cider instead!)

Book Rec: Witch's Brew: Magickal Cocktails to Raise the Spirits by Shawn Engel and Steven Nichols features cocktails and their matching mocktails, perfect for pairing with your witchy reading sesh or your next book club meeting.

Listen

This Witchy Vibes playlist on Spotify is a fun round-up of popular songs with witchy themes.

Cozy Autumn Witch’s Apothecary (on YouTube) provides the perfect spooky background for a witchy mood as you read.

Bookish Reading Tip That Works Like Magic on Your StressSet a daily reading goal, even if it's just 6 minutes!

Because reading for enjoyment can feel like an indulgence, it’s often last on our list (if it even makes a to-do list at all!). But a study conducted by the University of Sussex found that just six minutes of reading for pleasure has the benefit of reducing stress levels by 68%.

So, it’s more important than ever to conjure a daily reading habit! These tips work like magic:

Cast your reading spell at the same time each day. (During your witching hour will do!)

Retreat to a place that no one will dare bother you as you read.

Banish your phone from your easy grasp. (Even better, place a silence spell on it!)

Do you agree that your daily reading habit helps reduce your stress levels?